Guan Eng indicates corruption trial may affect his election candidacy

GEORGE TOWN: ‘ Perhaps.’ That’s what Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said when reporters pressed him for an answer on whether his corruption trial would affect his candidacy in the 14th General Election.

Lim, who is the DAP secretary- general, said he would have to attend the trial in the Penang High Court on several four- to five- day stretches between March and May.

The High Court has fi xed 23 days for the trial between March 26 and May 25.

On June 30, 2016, Lim claimed trial to using his public office or position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land to residential purpose during a state planning committee meeting on July 18, 2014.

Lim had also claimed trial to using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from Phang Li Koon at RM2.8 million, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million, on July 28, 2015.

Phang, who is also Magnificent Emblem president, claimed trial to abetting Lim in his purchase of the house at Pinhorn Road from her for RM2.8 million which was below the market value or RM4.27 million.

On another matter, Lim, who spoke to reporters here, said the state government had paid for the feasibility study for three highways through a land swap worth RM208 million.

He said the state government did not pay any money for the undersea tunnel feasibility study as claimed by Gerakan.

The state’s priority was the three highways and not the undersea tunnel which was expected to be completed only by 2027, he added.

Last Tuesday, Penang Gerakan claimed that the state government had paid RM208 million for a feasibility study for the undersea tunnel by way of a land swap. — Bernama